Improvement in sheet-metal cans



E. P. FOLLETT & G. FELLOWS. Sheet-Metal Gan.

Np. 218,512. Patented Aug. 12,1879.

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' embedded, forms the top of the can.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD P. FOLLETT AND GEORGE FELLOWS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNORS TO DAVID W. DUNHAM AND THOMAS L. TURNER, OF' SAME PLACE IMPROVEMENT IN SHEET-METAL CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,512, dated August 12, 1879; applieation filed June 28, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD P. FOLLETT and GEORGE FELLows, both of the city of Rochester, county of Monroe, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sheet-Metal Cans; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being-had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a can, showing our improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar View, but on an enlarged scale. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views, showing various stages in forming the can.

Ourimprovement relates to that class of sheet-metal cans in which a wire is embedded at the top of the can, and is used for cutting or tearing the tin to open the can. Such cans are well known.

Our invention consists of a can having the wire embedded in a fold in the top of the can i and below the cover also of a hook formed on the end of the wire, which catches on the fold to prevent the wire from drawing out, the whole so arranged that when the tin is cut the rent comes below the cover and within the body of the can. This is done to facilitate soldering. on the inside, as hereinafter described; also, to secure greater cheapness.

In the drawings, Arepresents the can, which is of ordinary form. The blank from which this can is made is grooved near one edge to receive the wire.

a is the groove, and b the wire. After the wire is laid therein the edge or flange of the blank above the groove is folded or turned over, embedding the wire, as shown at 0, but leaving one end of the wire projecting beyond the blank. The opposite end of the wire is bent to form a hook, d, and the corner of the blank is notched, as shown at f, so that when it is turned over an indentation is left, and

- the hook 01 catches on the edge, and thereby holds the wire fast. When this is done the blank is rolled up in cylinder shape to form the can, and the folded edge, with the wire The cover 9 is now applied, resting over the folded edge, but above the groove a. A ring or wire, h, of solder is now placed within the can, and, resting in the corner at the cover, and the can is placed upon a furnace, which melts the solder and causes the same to spread, thereby soldering the cover and can together on the inside, and leaving the embedded wire below the cover, so that when the rupture is made the top of the can, with the cover adhering, will be removed.

In most cases of this class the rupturingwire is located between the flange of the cover and the can, and outside of the can, in which case the soldering of the cover to the can must be done on the outsid'e, and by hand, which requires much labor.

We are aware that in one case the wire is located inside the can, and is held by a loose hoop inserted in the can; but this is expensive, and the soldering must be done on the outside.

By embedding the wire in a turned-over fold of the can great simplicity and cheapness of construction are attained, and the soldering can be done on the inside by simply placing rings of solder in the corner between the cover and the can, and melting the same by placing the can, with the cover turned down, upon a suitable furnace or heater.

If desired, the cover may fit down inside, instead of outside, of the can, and the cover may be soldered on the outside.

Various forms of wire may also be used, and the wire may be made sharp-edged, to cut the tin more easily.

Having thus described our invention, we do not claim,broadly,a Wire embedded in the top of the can; but

We claim- 1. The sheet-metal can A, constructed with a groove, a, on its inside to receive the wire b, and with a seam, 0, turned over to embed the wire, in combination with a cover, g, resting upon or within the seam above the groove and embedded wire, and secured by soldering, the whole so arranged that when the rupture takes place the wire cuts off the top of the can below the cover, as herein shown and described.

2. In a sheet-metal can, the combination of our names in the presence of two subscribing the wire I). provided with the hook (I, with the witnesses.

seam 0, provided with the indentation f, so EDVARD P- FOLLETIL arranged,as described, that said hook engages GEORGE FELLOWS. with or catches upon the edge of the seam at the indentation to hold the wire from draw- Witnesses:

ing out, as herein shown and described. R. F. OSGOOD,

In witness whereof We have hereunto signed S. S. SMITH. 

